Apparatus for forming a nonwoven web of criss-cross threads

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for forming a nonwoven web is disclosed in which a web carrier is formed by a pair of endless chains in which each link carries a thread-engaging hook. Individual threads fed from respective supply cones on a rotating serving ring are guided and engaged with the carrier hooks by means of an endless guide chain disposed on sprockets spaced on opposite sides of the web to be formed, and having eyes through which the threads pass. The guide chain is supported and driven in unison with the serving ring by elements extending through an opening in the center of the rotating serving ring.

United States Patent [72] Inventor William H. Burger Neenah, Wis. [21] Appl. No. 834,072

[22] Filed June 17, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee Kimberly-Clark Corporation Neenah, Wis.

[54] APPARATUS FOR FORMING A NONWdVEN WEB OF CRlSS-CROSS THREADS 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann ABSTRACT: An apparatus for forming a nonwoven web is disclosed in which a web carrier is formed by a pair of endless chains in which each link carries a thread-engaging hook. 1ndividual threads fed from respective supply cones on a rotating serving ring are guided and engaged with the carrier hooks by means of an endless guide chain disposed on sprockets spaced on opposite sides of the web to be formed, and having eyes through which the threads pass. The guide chain is supported and driven in unison with the serving ring by elements extending through an opening in the center of the rotating serving ring.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING A NONWOVEN WEB OF CRISS-CROSS THREADS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for forming nonwoven webs, and more particularly concerns apparatus for positively laying threads in a crisscross fashion on an advancing web carmet.

A principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus for laying threads on a continuously advancing carrier means in which each thread of the web is positively placed on a corresponding portion of the carrier.

A further object is to provide a thread-positioning apparatus for use with a rotating server ring which is effective to positively guide each thread into its intended position in synchronism with both the serving ring and the web carrier.

It is a further object to provide a thread-positioning apparatus for forming diagonal crosslaid webs, which apparatus may be supported and driven in conjunction with a rotating serving ring.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a web-forming apparatus exemplifying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the thread-positioning means of the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken in a plane 90 to that of FIG. 2, illustrating the motion of the thread-positioning means with respect to the web carrier.

While the invention is described in connection with a particular construction and method of operation, it will be understood that it is not restricted to the embodiments and procedures disclosed; but is, on the contrary, intended to cover other alternate and equivalent apparatus in which positive thread control and location is necessary in a web-laying operation.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary apparatus for forming a bias crosslaid web consisting of a plurality of spaced diagonal threads 11. The threads are fed from spools or cones 12 on a rotating serving ring 13, which is suitably journaled on a frame (not shown) for rotation about an axis x extending through a central opening 14 in the serving ring 13. The individual threads 11 are directed to an endless guide chain 15, and thereafter to a web carrier formed by a pair of endless carrier chains 16. The guide chain 15 defines a loop lying in a plane spaced from and generally parallel to the serving ring 13 and the carrier chains 16 lie in a common plane substantially transverse to the plane of the guide chain. The carrier chains 16 are each trained around upstream sprockets 17 and downstream sprockets 18 for advancing the substantially parallel inner reaches of the carrier chains downstream away from the guide chain 15 and in synchronized relation thereto. At the end of the carrier reach, the web 10 is detached from the carrier chains 16 by slitter wheels 20.

As a principal feature of the invention, the individual threads 11 are positively transferred by the guide chain 15 to the carrier chains 16 so that slipping and breaking of the threads 11 is substantially reduced or eliminated, and the threads are precisely located to assure uniformity in the finished web 10. For this purpose the guide chain 15 is made of a plurality of interconnected roller links 21 driven by guide sprockets 22 spaced at approximately the width of the web 10 to be formed. Each roller link 21 is constructed in conventional fashion, except that a plurality of upstanding elements 23 are provided in spaced relation with each element defining an eye 24 or other opening at its tip end. The individual threads 11 from the serving ring 13 pass through corresponding ones of the eyes 24, and are thereby carried from side to side in generally reciprocating fashion as the guide chain 15 rotates on its sprockets 22.

As a feature of the invention, the guide chain sprockets are journaled for rotation on a support 25 passing through the opening 14 in the rotating serving ring 13. The support 25 may thereby be fixed to the machine frame (not shown) and the guide chain 15 positively and securely located with respect to both the serving ring 13 and the carrier chain 16. The guide chains 15 are also preferably driven through respective drive shafts 26 connected through universal joints to the guide sprockets 22.

For the purpose of receiving the individual threads 11 from the guide chain 15, the carrier chains 16 are constructed in a like manner with individual roller links 27 each having an upstanding element 28 terminating in a hook 29. The hooks 29 are disposed with their openings generally parallel to the eyes 24 of the guide chain links 21 so that each thread may be engaged by a respective one of the hooks 29 as it is brought by in one ofthe eyes 24.

So that a thread 11 is placed in each hook 29 of the guide chains 16, movement of the guide chain 15 and carrier chains 16 are synchronized so that the guide links 21 and carrier links 27 pass in alternating sequence, with one thread 11 being picked up each time a guide link 21 passes by. To assist in the positioning of the threads within the hooks 29, a guide plate 30 is positioned adjacent each guide sprocket 22, with a smooth curving edge located adjacent the path of each thread 11 as it is carried by in its eye 24 toward its intended hook 29. The thread 11, having been previously hooked on a link 27 of the opposite carrier chain 16, is drawn across the web in a diagonal fashion (FIG. 1) and upon reaching the tip of the guide plate 30, is engaged and pulled away by a hook 29 of the other guide chain, and proceeds in an advancing direction between the inner reaches of the carrier chains in crisscross fashion to form the nonwoven web 10.

It will be observed that by positioning the upstream carrier chain sprockets 17 adjacent the respective guide sprockets 22, the carrier chains 16 and guide chain 15 are caused to intermesh at points where their respective links 27, 21 are passing around their sprockets, thereby opening the spaces between the upstanding elements 23, 28 of the links 21, 27 to facilitate the synchronized intermeshing process by which the threads 11 are fed from the eyes 24 to the hooks 29.

Modifications of the foregoing will be evident to one skilled in the art, but do not necessarily depart from the invention. For instance, the individual links 21 of the guide chain 15 can be provided with hooks rather than eyes 24, or the eyes 24 may be fitted with a slotted opening for introducing a thread 11 when initially setting the machine up for operation. In a like manner the hooks 29 of the carrier chain 16' may be replaced with upstanding pins or pegs if desired, so long as the necessary hooking action is achieved as each thread 11 is brought into place by the guide chain 15.

Once formed, the Web 10 may be treated in any desired way; such as by applying adhesive and other materials. The web 10 may be thus treated prior to detaching it from the car rier chains 16, or it may be transferred to another carrier means, such as opposed endless belts, and thereby transferred to further manufacturing steps.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for forming a nonwoven web comprising, in combination, a rotatable serving ring having a central opening and carrying a plurality of thread supply cones, a support extending through said opening, an endless guide chain carried by guide sprockets joumaled on the support for movement in unison with the serving ring, said guide chain defining an elongated loop lying in a plane spaced from and generally parallel to said serving ring and including a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly projecting elements respectively defining eyes each carrying a thread fed from a respective supply cone on the serving ring, and a pair of endless web carrier chains lying in a common plane substantially transverse to said first plane and movable about respective upstream and downstream carrier sprockets in synchronism with said guide chain, said web carrier chains each having a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly projecting hooks disposed to pass between respective ones of said eyes on said guide chain for alternately engaging threads carried by said eyes and for transporting said threads in crisscross fashion away from said guide chain, said upstream carrier sprockets each being located adjacent and at right angles to said guide sprockets so that said hooks and eyes are caused to intermesh at points where they are respectively passing around said sprockets thereby opening the spaces between adjacent ones of said projecting hooks and eyes to facilitate the engagement by said hooks of said threads fed from said eyes.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said carrier chains form elongated loops with parallel inner reaches extending away from the guide chain, and terminating in means for detaching the formed web of crisscross threads from the carrier chains 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a fixed thread deflector adjacent each of the guide sprockets for guiding threads onto the hooks of the carrier chains.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the guide chain consists of an endless roller chain having a plurality of interconnected links, with each link having an upstanding support member defining said eye.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each carrier chain consists of an endless roller chain having a plurality of interconnected links, each link having an upstanding support member terminating in said hook. 

1. Apparatus for forming a nonwoven web comprising, in combination, a rotatable serving ring having a central opening and carrying a plurality of thread supply cones, a support extending through said opening, an endless guide chain carried by guide sprockets journaled on the support for movement in unison with the serving ring, said guide chain defining an elongated loop lying in a plane spaced from and generally parallel to said serving ring and including a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly projecting elements respectively defining eyes each carrying a thread fed from a respective supply cone on the serving ring, and a pair of endless web carrier chains lying in a common plane substantially transverse to said first plane and movable about respective upstream and downstream carrier sprockets in synchronism with said guide chain, said web carrier chains each having a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly projecting hooks disposed to pass between respective ones of said eyes on said guide chain for alternately engaging threads carried by said eyes and for transporting said threads in crisscross fashion away from said guide chain, said upstream carrier sprockets each being located adjacent and at right angles to said guide sprockets so that said hooks and eyes are caused to intermesh at points where they are respectively passing around said sprockets thereby opening the spaces between adjacent ones of said projecting hooks and eyes to facilitate the engagement by said hooks of said threads fed from said eyes.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said carrier chains form elongated loops with parallel inner reaches extending away from the guide chain, and terminating in means for detaching the formed web of crisscross threads from the carrier chains.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said carrier chains form elongated loops with parallel inner reaches extending away from the guide chain, and terminating in means for detaching the formed web of crisscross threads from the carrier chains.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a fixed thread deflector adjacent each of the guide sprockets for guiding threads onto the hooks of the carrier chains.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the guide chain consists of an endless roller chain having a plurality of interconnected links, with each link having an upstanding support member defining said eye.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each carrier chain consists of an endless roller chain having a plurality of interconnected links, each link having an upstanding support member terminating in said hook. 